Mali: Soldiers Set Up Transitional Body, Announces Border Closure, Curfew

The Malian soldiers on Wednesday explained the mandate of the newly created National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP), hours after the President, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, resigned from office.

The military men noted that the newly created body will oversee a political transition toward general elections.

The development was revealed in a statement released by the spokesperson of the military, Col. Ismael Wague, on Wednesday.

Wague assured that the mutineers are not keen on power, but on the stability of the country.

He said the body “will allow us to organise general elections within a reasonable time-frame to allow Mali to equip itself with strong institutions that are capable of managing our daily lives.”

The military officer said in order to prevent the country from sinking, the CNSP decided to take responsibility “to ensure the continuity of the state and public services.”

Wague disclosed some other decision, which includes the closure of all air and land borders, and a 9 p.m.-5 a.m curfew.

The CNSP invited civil society and socio-political movements to join in order to create “the best conditions for a better civil transition leading to credible elections.”